A DESPERATE last-ditch attempt to stop the England cricket team playing its controversial World Cup match in Zimbabwe is being made by Derek Wyatt, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

The Labour MP and former England rugby union international is taking the England and Wales Cricket Board to the High Court.

He believes the board has acted illegally by forcing Nasser Hussain's team to play its game in Harare against players' wishes.

Mr Wyatt is due to petition the High Court in the next few days for a judicial review. He will argue that the ECB's behaviour is in breach of its constitution, which rules that the traditions and spirit of the game must be upheld and enhanced.

The ECB is backing a ruling by the Internal Cricket Council that the fixture will go ahead in Zimbabwe on Thursday, February 13.

Mr Wyatt said: "Nasser Hussain and the rest of the players clearly do not want to play this match in Zimbabwe, yet at the moment the ECB are still helping to force them to do something their consciences find repugnant.

"If the players want to play the match elsewhere, surely forcing them to play in Zimbabwe violates the sport's true spirit."